[Zystral]

I told Vader I'd proofread as much as I could.
Bold means additions/changes
Red means removals

Originally Posted by Fat hailflameblast

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[Overview]

<p>Buizel is one of the more devastating members of Little Cup. At max Speed with +Spe nature, it hits 19 Speed, allowing it to tie with some of the metagame’s biggest threats. Buizel has access to Baton Pass, allowing it to quickly pass Bulk Up and Agility boosts. Buizel’s attack stat is very good, and its HP is at a healthy 22 without any EV investment, and it can go up to 25. This makes a Buizel a potent foe as it is difficult to guess if it is a Baton Passer or a straight up sweeper or even a boosting sweeper.</p>

<p>Buizel can even run a special set, which can stop any physically defensive Pokemon trying to force it out.</p>

<p>These factors allow it to play mind-games with an opponent, and while one turn is enough to figure out whether it is a support, sweeping, or boosting Buizel, and whether it is physically or specially based; but that one turn is extremely dangerous and any errors can have a high cost, possibly even the whole match.</p>

[SET]

Name: Physical Sweeper
Move 1: Aqua Jet
Move 2: Ice Punch
Move 3: Return
Move 4: Brick Break
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 236 Atk / 36 SpD / 236 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>This is Buizel’s straight-up sweeping set. Aqua Jet provides STAB, giving Buizel priority, which is very important in Little Cup. Ice Punch complements it well, nailing the Dragon- and Grass- types that resist Waterfall. Return pairs up well with Waterfall, and the two moves hit every Pokémon in Little Cup for at least neutral damage. Brick Break hits Munchlax hard, along with Steel-types trying to come in on return. It also stops Dual Screen strategies cold.</p>

<p>Buizel must always beware priority, as its defenses are very weak. Also, randomly firing off moves does not work as it can easily give your opponent a free switch-in. Prediction is required to a certain degree, as that can help destroy checks trying to come in using resistances or immunities.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Buizel appreciates Stealth Rock support a lot as it helps it net important KOs. Also, it stops slow, Sashed revenge-killers trying to surprise Buizel. For example, Ice Punch has a lot better chance to KO Gligar after Stealth Rock.</p>

<p>Also, This Buizel works well on a Rain Dance team as its Speed doubles to a godly 38 in the rain, allowing it to destroy every Scarfer trying to revenge kill it. Voltorb can set up Rain and then Explode, giving Buizel 6 turns to sweep, during which it should be able to net quite a few KOs with Waterfall, which receives a double STAB boost in the rain.</p>

<p>Mantyke stops Croagunk cold, and can happily grab an Agility boost as Croagunk switches and can start a sweep. Gligar can destroy Croagunk with Earthquake.</p>

[SET]

Name: Baton Pass Sweeper
Move 1: Bulk Up
Move 2: Baton Pass
Move 3: Waterfall / Aqua Jet
Move 4: Return
Item: Oran Berry
Ability: Swift Swim
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 236 Atk / 36 SpD / 236 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>While this Buizel may not pose the immediate threat that the sweeper set does, in the long term, it can destroy a team. Bulk Up boosts its Attack and Defense by one stage, giving it a lot more additional firepower. While the Defense boost may not seem all that great, it becomes threatening when Buizel pulls off a speedy Baton Pass to a teammate. Waterfall / Aqua Jet and Return are there in case Buizel would like to use its boosts for creating holes in your opponent’s teams with their excellent neutral coverage.</p>

<p>The choice between Waterfall and Aqua Jet is purely personal. Go with Waterfall if you think you’ll be setting up after faster and priority-abusing threats are down, and go with Aqua Jet if you think you’ll be Baton Passing early in the battle. Either way, dry Baton Passes can be useful for scouting switches early on, thus revealing their check to Buizel.</p>

<p>This set is a bit harder to stop since the turn you take to switch to a check is probably all that Buizel needs to set up for a sweep or to Baton Pass out to something suitable to check your ‘check’. However, a predicted Thunder Wave can cripple Buizel, preventing it from being able to Baton Pass to safety after it has boosted. The Oran Berry gives it useful healing in a pinch, possibly letting it survive a priority attack in order to go out to a teammate.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Stealth Rock support isn’t that important, since Buizel generally won’t be staying in to sweep, but Rapid Spin support is nice since Buizel will probably be bouncing in and out of play regularly, and minimizing passive damage will help to keep Oran Berry for crucial junctures. Phanpy is good at this, and can be Baton Passed to on the Electric attacks that Buizel lures in, but both are weak to Grass, so be cautious</p>

<p>Phanpy can provide Rapid Spin support, and can be dry Baton Passed too against Choiced Electric-types. Elekid is a good recipient of Buizel’s boosts, and so are other physically based Little Cup Pokémon. If forced to, Buizel can pass the boosts to Munchlax, who appreciates the extra Attack and Defense, allowing it take and dish out hits better.</p>

[SET]

Name: AgilitySubLeichi
Move 1: Agility
Move 2: Substitute
Move 3: Waterfall
Move 4: Return
Item: Liechi Berry
Ability: Swift Swim
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 236 Atk / 36 SpD / 236 Spe
IVs: 0 HP IV

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Buizel gets perfect neutral coverage with just STAB Waterfall and Return, thus allowing it two free slots for it to use. This can be filled with Substitute and Agility, and the item slot with Liechi Berry in order to create a potent late-game sweeper. Due to Agility, Buizel can afford to use an Adamant nature and drop to 18 Speed.

<p>Buizel is sure to force switches, which buys it a turn to use Substitute. Then, Agility as your Substitute is broken, and Sub down until the Liechi berry activates, and start sweeping. The 0 HP IV ensures that you get 20 HP, allowing you to activate Liechi Berry after 3 Substitutes. This is because Buizel cannot afford to sacrifice speed or attack power to raise its HP to 24.</p>

<p>If Substitute and Stealth Rock are up, Buizel can remove what is probably the best Buizel check in Little Cup - Croagunk - from play with Return.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>This set cannot be thrown onto a team haphazardly, and requires a fair bit of team support. First of all, it needs Rapid Spin support to remove the entry hazards that could potentially ruin its plans. Next, it needs a reliable Croagunk check, since it has to sacrifice its Substitute to defeat it, thus making it vulnerable to priority such as Dratini’s ExtremeSpeed. Also, it likes having multi-hit move users removed as they can KO Buizel after breaking its Substitute.</p>

<p>Buizel has to come in after a KO due to its frailty, which allows you to force switches. However, this probably means a potential sacrifice to bring it in. However, if you have a Rain Dance user, try to set up Rain as you are KO’d to not only boost Buizel’s speed during its setup phase, but also to stop Sandstorm and Hail.</p>

<p>Phanpy is a reliable Rapid Spinner partner to Buizel, and it can eliminate choiced Electric types. Scarfed Gligar can check Croagunk, and DD Dratini can eliminate opposing priority users with Extremespeed.</p>

[SET]
Name: Choice Band
Move 1: Aqua Jet
Move 2: Return
Move 3: Ice Punch
Move 4: Brick Break
Item: Choice Band
Ability: Swift Swim
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 236 Atk / 36 SpD / 236 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>With a Choice Band, Buizel gives up its ability to change moves and keep the pressure on with its high speed for the ability to hit hard and fast. Aqua Jet is needed for priority, and the drop in power is made up for somewhat by the Choice Band. Return once again provides excellent neutral coverage, Ice Punch hits Dragons and Grass types trying to come in on Aqua Jet and Gligar, and Brick Break hits Steels.</p>

<p>This set requires a lot of prediction in order to net KOs, just like any Choiced Pokemon. Mid-game, it can be used to tear holes in your opponent’s team and as a priority abusing revenge killer, and late-game, it can actually sweep with its sheer power.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Croagunk is now a lot more threatening, as it can come in on Aqua Jets, and force Buizel out with the risk of priority. This gives your opponent a free turn, which can potentially be damaging to your momentum.</p>

<p>Stealth Rock and Rapid Spin are now all the more necessary, with the former necessary to break Sashes so that Pokemon can be KO’d by Aqua Jet, while the latter can keep Buizel in good health.</p>

<p>Agility Mantyke, and Scarfed Gligar check Croagunk as usual, while Phanpy can Rapid Spin and can suck up Electric type hits like Gligar, but with the freedom to switch moves.</p>

[SET]

Name: Choice Scarf
Move 1: Waterfall / Aqua Jet
Move 2: Return
Move 3: Ice Punch
Move 4: Brick Break
Item: Choice Scarf
Ability: Swift Swim
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 236 Atk / 36 SpD / 236 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>With max speed, Choice Scarf and an Adamant nature, Buizel hits 27 Speed, enough to outspeed all unboosted Pokémon in Little Cup, along with some Scarfed Pokémon.</p>

<p>Waterfall replaces Aqua Jet as the STAB move of choice, since there are no unboosted Pokémon which outspeed Buizel, but this makes it prone to priority. However, this is necessary, because Buizel’s Attack stat is not adequate to use Aqua Jet without any boosts backing it. However, if you are paranoid about priority, feel free to use Aqua Jet.</p>

<p>Return complements Waterfall, well, and as usual, Ice Punch takes care of Dragons, Grass-types and Gligar, while Brick Break deals with Steel types.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Well, Stealth Rock is really needed due to the lack of attack boosts. And so is Rapid Spin, due to the amount of switching required. With this set, Buizel becomes an effective revenge killer, capable of KOing nearly every weakened Pokémon lacking priority.</p>

<p>Phanpy provides Rapid Spin support and Gligar or Mantyke deal with Croagunk. They are the staple team members that practically every Buizel needs. Beyond that, if you are not using Aqua Jet, a good priority user is useful to pick off possible threats to Buizel.

[SET]

Name: Special Sweeper
Move 1: Surf
Move 2: Ice Beam
Move 3: HP Grass / HP Electric
Move 4: Baton Pass
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
Nature: Timid
EVs: 200 Sp.Atk / 36 SpD / 236 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>While Buizel is generally seen using its physical Attack, which is one point ahead of its Special attack, its Special Attack is also very decent and usable. The advantage of using a special Buizel is that its STAB and Ice-type move are stronger, and that it has access to Grass- and Electric-type moves in the form of Hidden Power. Surf provides strong STAB, and Ice Beam hits Dragons, Brass-types, and Gligar super-effectively. The Hidden Power of choice deals with opposing Electric-types and is the choice between hitting Barboach or hitting Mantyke for 4x damage. A dry Baton Pass can be used for scouting for switches.</p>

<p>This set has the advantage of surprise, but is stopped by Munchlax once your opponent realizes that you are running a special set. However, once this happens, you can always Baton Pass to something that can take advantage of Munchlax.</p>

<p>While it may seem that it is outclassed by other rain sweepers, it has something over all of them: access to Baton Pass. It can easily Baton Pass out of Munchlax using Seed Bomb to Bronzor, who can Hypnosis it and give a free turn to bring in another Pokemon. Also, you can make a sacrifice later in the game for Machop to come in and KO Munchlax. Other Pokémon must switch, meaning that they do not know if Munchlax or some other Pokemon will come in to check them, unlike Buizel, who allows you to know precisely what Pokemon is about to come in..</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Regardless of the Hidden Power chosen, these are the EVs to use. Ice Beam hits Croagunk harder than Ice Punch would have, which is a bonus if you predict that it is going to come in on an expected Waterfall. Ice Beam also destroys Gligar. This set requires Stealth Rock support to make up for the slightly lower Special Attack stat.

<p>This works quite well on a Rain Dance team, as that boosts Surf’s power quite high (after STAB and the rain boost, Surf’s power goes up to a godly 214). In addition, Swift Swim is activated, giving it a huge speed stat of 38, enough to outspeed every Scarfed Pokemon in Little Cup trying to revenge kill it.</p>

<p>Phanpy is still a good partner, but it conflicts with Rain Dance. Still, the Rapid Spin support it provides is important to keeping Buizel healthy. Mantyke in the rain is also good for checking Croagunk.</p>

<p>Bronzor and Machop are very helpful together to taking out Munchlax.</p>

[SET]

Name: Mixed Sweeper
Move 1: Surf
Move 2: Ice Beam
Move 3: Return
Move 4: Brick Break
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
Nature: Naïve / Rash
EVs: 156 Atk / 116 Sp.Atk / 236 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Mixed sweeping Buizel is probably the set least expected by your opponent. This is very powerful in the rain, as your opponent may assume it to be a purely physical or purely special set, and send out an appropriately defensive Pokemon, only to watch it get KO’d by an attack from the opposite side of the spectrum.</p>

<p>Surf is again, strong STAB, and Ice Beam covers Dragons and Grass types, while destroying Gligar. That rounds out your special coverage. On the physical side, Return gets excellent neutral coverage with Surf, and Brick break takes care of Munchlax and Steel types.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>This set is devastating in Rain Dance teams, as you can then afford to use a Rash nature and equalize your attacking stats. While your attacking stats may be a bit low, Life Orb backs them up and gives you a Pokemon that can power its way through a weakened team. Stealth Rock helps a lot in doing this, and leads that have a high chance of getting it up are recommended.</p>

<p>Rain support is almost mandatory for this set in order to boost Surf’s power to insane levels, and to activate Swift Swim. Croagunk has to be taken out at first, and the same goes with other priority users, so remember to pack checks for them.</p>

<p>Mixed Buizel should only be used lategame since that is when it can pick off all slower foes lacking priority moves.</p>

<p>Mantyke is probably your best check to Croagunk since Gligar won’t like taking highly boosted Water-type moves in the rain, whereas Mantyke can laugh them off with Water Absorb. Stealth Rock support is also necessary to compensate for the somewhat poor attacking stats of Buizel compared to the other sets.

[Team Options]

<p>Buizel requires a fair bit of team support, so it is recommended that you just go all the way and put Buizel in a Rain Dance team, as that is where it shines. With its Speed going to enormous levels, and its STAB attack getting a heavy double-STAB boost, Buizel can tear enormous holes in teams early game, and if Croagunk is eliminated early on, it can sweep a team.</p>

<p>Speaking of Croagunk, Mantyke or Gligar are absolutely necessary to beat it. On a Rain Dance team, Mantyke is preferred since Gligar will fall easily to Water moves in the rain, whereas Mantyke can come in and heal itself with Water Absorb on them. Bronzor and Voltorb are good at setting up Rain for Buizel to take advantage of. Even the AgilitySubLiechi set appreciates Rain support, as that cancels any prevailing weather, allowing Buizel to avoid taking passive damage..</p>

[Optional Changes]

<p>Aside from the sets already mentioned, Buizel doesn’t really have too many other options.</p>

<p>Endeavor could work with Aqua Jet and a Focus Sash to finish off one Pokemon and leave another at 1 HP, but this isn’t all that great with all the priority moves running around the place.</p>

<p>Buizel could work as a suicide lead setting up Rain Dance, but is outclassed by Voltorb in that aspect and should just stick to sweeping and Baton Passing.</p>

<p>Speaking of Baton Passing, a pure Baton Passing set Substitute, Bulk Up and Agility sounds great when combined with a pinch berry, but Buizel doesn’t have the defenses to set up for that long.</p>

<p>AgilitySubLiechi is another set that sounds great in theory, but that is just asking for Buizel to go down to Croagunk and Dratini.</p>

[Counters]

<p>Buizel can run various sets, and thus its counters change somewhat between sets. For the physical sweeper, Croagunk can check it well by coming in on Waterfall and threatening it with its various priority moves. The Baton Pass Sweeper is slightly harder to stop since it can escape out after a boost to something that can threaten your switch-in. Basically, any pseudo-hazers that you have should be used to cause to force a switch and make the recipient of Buizel's Bulk Up boosts lose them.</p>

<p>Croagunk and Dratini together can stop the AgilitySubLiechi set. Croagunk can break the Substitute with priority, and will probably get KO'd in return. However, Dratini can then come in and KO back with Extremespeed. For the Choice Band and Choice Scarf sets, predicted switches and keeping Stealth Rock down on Buizel's team's side of the field is paramount to weakening it. Once sufficiently weakened, Mixed Priority Abusing Croagunk can defeat Buizel with Fake Out followed by Vacuum Wave.</p>

<p>Munchlax walls the Special sweeper set very well, and can Pursuit as Buizel Baton Passes to possibly KO it.</p>

<p>The mixed sweeper is far trickier to check, since it can hit from both end of the spectrum, but Elekid can check it as long as Rain is not up. If Rain is up, pray that Buizel has taken enough Life Orb recoil for Croagunk to defeat it, and use that.</p>

loads of minor little things.